The Baltimore Ravens have nine weeks remaining in the regular season, but four consecutive losses have put their playoff hopes under pressure. The team is also dealing with uncertainty at quarterback: Lamar Jackson is recovering from surgery on a broken and dislocated thumb, and his return date has not been set.
A six- to ten-week recovery period could give Jackson a chance to return late in the season. Head coach Jesse Minter outlined that estimate after the quarterback underwent surgery, and an update from ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the same potential recovery window. The timeline is not a guarantee, however. Minter said the team would assess Jackson’s progress as he heals.
“Lamar is doing well as he recovers from the broken and dislocated thumb injury he suffered in Week 8,” Minter said in a statement. “Recovery timelines are challenging to predict, but injuries like this that require surgery typically take 6-10 weeks to heal. He is doing everything he can to get back, and we will let his progress guide the timing of his return. We are committed to playing our best football over the second half of the season.”
At the time of the update, Baltimore had a 4-5 record and was projected to have a 3.7% chance of reaching the playoffs. The Ravens were one game out of the AFC’s final playoff spot. Jackson’s availability could be important to the team’s late-season outlook, but Baltimore will need to remain in contention while he recovers.
The Ravens have tried several options at quarterback during Jackson’s absence. They also acquired Jacoby Brissett from the Arizona Cardinals ahead of the trade deadline. Those moves have not stopped the team’s losing streak, which had reached four games.
Jackson’s thumb injury occurred during Baltimore’s Week 8 matchup with the Buffalo Bills. On his first dropback, his right throwing hand collided with Bills pass rusher Greg Rousseau as he attempted to throw to wide receiver Zay Flowers. Jackson looked at his hand, went to the sideline and then headed to the locker room.
The team initially announced that Jackson would undergo surgery and be placed on injured reserve. Minter said at the time that the injury could be season-ending, though Baltimore had not yet shared the precise diagnosis. The setback came after Jackson had already missed three games because of a separate injury.
That earlier injury happened during a Week 4 game against the Tennessee Titans. Jackson had completed 15 of 20 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, while the Ravens held a 24-7 lead. On the final offensive play before halftime, Titans defensive end Jermaine Johnson II sacked Jackson and landed on his leg or ankle. Jackson went to the sideline and did not return to the game.
Subsequent reports identified the injury as a high ankle sprain. Jackson missed the next three games before returning against Buffalo, but his comeback lasted only one offensive snap before the thumb injury forced him out again.
The six- to ten-week estimate offers a possible path back for Jackson, but the precise timing depends on how his recovery progresses. For Baltimore, the immediate challenge is to manage the quarterback position and improve its results while Jackson is unavailable. Whether he can return in time to help will depend both on his health and on the Ravens’ ability to stay within reach of a playoff spot.
